The Boat People
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The Boat People
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Narrated by:
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Athena Karkanis
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Written by:
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Sharon Bala
About this listen
By the winner of The Journey Prize, and inspired by a real incident, The Boat People is a gripping and morally complex novel about a group of refugees who survive a perilous ocean voyage to reach Canada - only to face the threat of deportation and accusations of terrorism in their new land.
When the rusty cargo ship carrying Mahindan and 500 fellow refugees reaches the shores of British Columbia, the young father is overcome with relief: he and his six-year-old son can finally put Sri Lanka's bloody civil war behind them and begin new lives. Instead, the group is thrown into prison, with government officials and news headlines speculating that hidden among the "boat people" are members of a terrorist militia. As suspicion swirls and interrogation mounts, Mahindan fears the desperate actions he took to survive and escape Sri Lanka now jeopardize his and his son's chances for asylum.
Told through the alternating perspectives of Mahindan; his lawyer Priya, who reluctantly represents the migrants; and Grace, a third-generation Japanese-Canadian adjudicator who must decide Mahindan's fate, The Boat People is a high-stakes novel that offers a deeply compassionate lens through which to view the current refugee crisis. Inspired by real events, with vivid scenes that move between the eerie beauty of northern Sri Lanka and combative refugee hearings in Vancouver, where life and death decisions are made, Sharon Bala's stunning debut is an unforgettable and necessary story for our times.
©2018 Sharon Bala (P)2018 McClelland & StewartWhat the critics say
What listeners say about The Boat People
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SA
- 2019-04-21
Important story
Really enjoyed the story - very timely and important to remind ourselves of what the individual stories of immigrant are, and the endless bureaucratic challenges involved in coming to new countries, some more challenging than others. My only real issue is with the accents - they feel a bit racist? I don’t know how to explain - it feels very jarring to listen to a white person do a South Asian accent and it made me uncomfortable. Also apparently all men sound the same and have the same affect? Lol ok.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- 2018-09-18
Relevant topic around the world.
A lot of attention is placed on the horrific conditions at the Mexican/ US border. It’s easy to overlook what is going on in you’re own country.
As a Canadian, I am well aware that we have a responsibility to help those who need safe refuge. In general I think Canada does a good job, that being said, this book details the harrowing stories that do happen. It gives insight on how we can fail vulnerable people. This book put a face and a heart to those that were victimized by the system. Everyone has a story. They are not just people on a boat.
#Audible1
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- A.B
- 2018-02-04
Fantastic!
The Boat People is a fascinating and thought provoking story. It’s changed the way I see migrants and the legal process they must go through to be admitted into Canada. More than this, it could be any refugee’s story and, as such, is an extremely compelling read (or listen as the case may be) The author weaves this haunting, tragic tale, albeit shocking at times and often disturbing. She has done her research well and paints a vivid picture.
I was completely engrossed in the audio version and couldn’t wait to continue listening and finish the book.
Ms Karkanis does an incredible job as narrator, giving the characters accents and changing her voice with such ease in amongst all the book’s dialogue. She really made it easy to listen to and follow. Don’t be fooled by the meager audio sample- she is a brilliant narrator who brought the book to life.
I would highly recommend this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeannie
- 2019-02-12
Absolute must listen
A well told story based on a true story. Well it highlights some shameful history for Canadians, it is a epic story of love and resilience. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- cheryl
- 2018-09-13
Loved this book!
I so loved this book! It elicited so many emotions! There were times when I actually wept in horror. The characters were so well developed that I hated to say goodbye when the book ended. In fact, I didn't want the book to end! #Audible1
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- MaxMaxy
- 2018-05-07
A must...
Great story writing, sometimes hard to listen to due to the harrowing content. Not overly sentimental but rich characters. Loved that it was set in BC.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stephanie Coulson
- 2019-01-02
Ending was disappointing
Too many loose threads that don't get tied up. I think this is a stylistic choice on behalf of the author, but I was so invested in this story that I am sad to feel like there's so much missing from the ending. I did enjoy it up to the end, and the narration was amazing!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Marc Faubert
- 2018-03-30
A book everyone should read/listen to.
Timely, Empathy. I hung on to every word. Canada reads should have won I can't say enough
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2018-09-14
Very interesting!
A great read that gives the reader insight into what refugees go through in order to start a new life. #Audible1
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christina Thomson
- 2018-04-27
simply amazing
The characters in this story continue to haunt me. I'm left feeling desperate for change. The book finshes with a sense of openness... at first I felt cheated by the ending but I am now content with the lack of finality. It gives hope. I am reminded that it was a privilege to be born in Canada but this country is far from perfect. I really hope the future will foster a greater sense of community and compassion.
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1 person found this helpful